Waves rocked our boat lightly. The sway made my stomach roll. I was a land dwelling creature! I was not made to float in the middle of a huge ass lake!
It dipped again and my insides clenched. I lowered my head over the side. If I vomited I would feel better, right? The lump in my throat bobbed, but I forced it down. I didn't want to empty myself at a boat party.
Cursing my seasickness, I looked down at the bottom of the lake. The water was crystal clear and tiny fish zipped around. Below them algae danced, and further down than that was a murky stain. It swayed with the waves, even though it should have been deep enough to be undisturbed.
I leaned further over the edge, squinting. My reflection came closer and back again. I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed hard. After blinking a few times, I tried to look past it and at the furry, matted, dark brown ball at the bottom of the lake.
What was that thing?
A sharp sting assaulted my back and the hollow of my collarbone. With all my strength, I pushed myself back into the boat and sent myself sprawling on the deck.
"Jesus Christ, man! Are you ok?" It was Darren, the idiot. I pushed myself up to sit and rubbed my collarbone.
"Do I look ok to you?" I side eyed him and bit my tongue. He was an inconsiderate moron at times, but he was a good guy. I owed him a lot.
"Damn, I thought you grew out of it." He rubbed his neck with creased brows. "You were fine when we went jet skiing."
"Yeah, I thought so too." I sighed.
"Want me to—" He cut himself off and focused on my neck.
"Uhhh, dude. Are you ok? You're bleeding."
I pulled my hand away from my throat. Blood stained my fingers.
Shit.
I clicked my tongue. This day just kept getting better and better.
"Something bit me when you slapped me on the back. I didn't see what though." I pulled the collar of my T-shirt up and pressed it to the spot. Pressure would make it stop soon enough.
"Let me bring you some antiseptic. If it feels itchy or you fell worse, let me know. We'll turn around and take you to the hospital." He helped me up and into a cabin to lie down a bit.
I closed my eyes and took deep breaths.
In-1, 2, 3, 4-hold-2, 3, 4-out-1, 2, 3, 4.
My stomach slowly settled and the lull seemed to ease me to sleep.
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Something cold and damp slapped my face. I threw myself to the opposite side, but my legs got tangled and I fell on wooden floorboards. I rolled on my back, twisting myself further into the comforter. The cabin was silent apart from my shallow panting. My forehead hurt where I smacked the floor, but was otherwise unhurt.
I looked around, still in a daze. Dusk was poking its last rays of sunlight through the closed, smudged windows. The door was shut as well. I was alone.
My cheek stung. I ran my fingers over it. A snotty wet substance clung on to them. It wasn't drool, but there was nothing else that could have left it behind. I wiped it off with the comforter and got up.
The air on the deck was cool. It still carried the rotting earth smell, but it was better than the scorching midday heat. The boat was tied to the small rotting dock, bobbing next to the fluffy cattails, and the windows of the cabin ahead were lit.
"Jake, you're up! How are you feeling?" Darren dropped the fishing rods and hopped to me.
"A lot better. I really needed that nap," I said, holding back a yawn. His face relaxed and he smiled.
"That's good. The rest are in the house preparing dinner. I'll join you guys once I finish cleaning this up." He went to pick the rods back up and I joined him.
"I'll help."
Darren filled me in on all the shenanigans I missed as we placed everything back. To my surprise, I had slept like a log through things that would have usually woken me up. Not only that, but I wasn't seasick anymore. The boat was wobbling and yet I was as right as rain. Maybe I did grow out of it and just ate something bad that morning.
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My throat burned with pain. I rolled off the couch and staggered to my feet. The world tilted to one side, then the other. It felt as if I was still on the boat.
I ran a hand over my face to rub the sleep out of my eyes. I needed to focus. The silver light of dusk helped me navigate around my friends sleeping on the floor. I almost tripped on a few of them as I waddled towards the kitchen.
The sink was directly across the room from the doorless archway, with the dining table between them. I lost my balance twice from stepping on empty chip wrappers on the floor, barely saving myself by leaning on the chairs that were left everywhere but where they should be. Rounding the last corner, I grabbed hold of the dining table's edge to steady myself as I stepped over a fallen chair. The half toppled cup pyramid at the centre of the table wobbled with me. I reached for the countertop and pulled myself over.
Success!
All that booze had left me as dry as a raisin. So, I fished out a cup and ran the tap. With a fresh cup of water in hand, I nudged the pizza boxes on the countertop just enough to rest the glass. I pulled up the chair from the floor and sat next to the window.
Fog covered the lake and snaked through the grass. In the silver light, it looked like it was glowing. I lifted the window open just enough to let the musky air inside. It smelled strongly of rain and damp earth. I breathed it in. The humidity was heavy in my lungs, but it helped me sober up.
I closed my eyes and listened to the soft waves. I never noticed how comforting the sound was. It lulled me into a daze. I cracked my eyes open and watched the shadowy outlines of the cattails weave and bob like bustling crowds on either side of the small dock. The view was picturesque. It made me want to go out onto the lake again.
Feel the muck between my toes. Watch the water muddy around me. Let that furry mess of algae pull me to the bottom. The waves would lull me back and forth like a cattail in the breeze. The soft voice coming and going would sing me to sleep.
It came in and out on the lapping water. Soft, warm, like a hum from the fog. It was beautiful. I needed to get closer. To hear it better.
I got out of the chair and pushed the window open. I barely fit through it, scraping my elbow on the sill. It didn't hurt. I just needed to get closer.
Branches and rocks poked and stabbed my bare feet, but I kept moving. The lake, the beautiful lake. It's all I needed. The splintering dock creaked from my weight. Closer. Just a little more.
Behind the cattails, long, shiny appendages mimicked the sway. Sludge and water dripped from their dark, sleek skin. It fogged up the water beneath them until it was as unpenetrable as the one above the surface.
Beautiful.
I swayed with them to the tune of the humming. Back and forth. The appendages swam closer, zig-zagging in beat. Excitement pulsed in my chest and I grinned.
I couldn't remember the last time I felt that good. Nothing mattered, everything was going to be just fine. Better than fine. Peaceful. Quiet. Calm. I walked further down the dock until my toes were hanging off. I raised my arms.
One of them wrapped its smooth self around me. It was pleasantly cold. It gently lifted me off, still rocking to the humming. Left. Right. Closer and closer to the surface of the water. And with the receding of the waves, it plunged me into the murky depths.
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